Luella Laura Hermanson

Luella Laura Hermanson, age 87 of Blue Earth, passed away at her home on Wednesday, June 5, 2019. Funeral services will be at 10:30 am Saturday June 15 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 305 E. 5^th Street in Blue Earth with Pastor Matthew Lorfeld officiating. Visitation will be 5-7pm Friday, June 14 at Patton Funeral Home, 400 E. 14^th St., Blue Earth, and again one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery in Blue Earth. Online condolences can be left at www.pattonfh.com

Luella was born October 16, 1931 to Walter and Alma (Goltz) Mathews.  Her German baptismal certificate records her baptism took place at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Elmore Township.  She grew up on a farm south of Blue Earth and attended the small country school a mile from her home until she completed the eighth grade and then attended Blue Earth High School.  She met the love of her life at Ankeny’s Roller Rink in Blue Earth.  On May 23, 1951 Duane LeRoy Hermanson and Luella Laura Mathews were united in a marriage that continued for 68 years. Together they raised three boys on their over the river and through the woods hobby farm between Blue Earth and Elmore, Minnesota. Over many years the family’s love for animals created a farm that had numerous dogs, cats, white chickens, banty chickens, pigs, steers, ducks, pet rabbits, a pony, a racoon, guinea fowl, hamsters, and a chinchilla.  However, Luella’s livestock pride and joy were her sheep and lambs.  She gave them all the tender loving care they needed and called them each by name.  Luella was loving, determined, predictable, and a dedicated hard worker.  Her circle of influence was primarily centered around her community.  Luella enjoyed getting together with family, friends, and local neighbors for card parties and snowmobile rides on the state trail that abutted the farm.  She was a lifetime member of a local chapter of the University of Minnesota Extension Service, The Kitchen Clatter Club, where neighborhood rural women would meet monthly to discuss U of M research materials related to topics such as animals and livestock, commercial fruit and vegetable growers, food, nutrition and health, home and financial management, managing a farm, as well as yard and garden. In past years, community events included “going to town” (Blue Earth) as a family to shop and socialize with others on a Friday Night on Main Street.   She served on the St. Paul Lutheran Church Finance Committee.  As a successful businesswoman she was a Vanda Beauty Counselor for over 50 years and a longtime vendor at the Blue Earth Farmer’s Market.  Both Luella and Duane worked together as a team to market their homegrown garden vegetables.  He did the gardening and she did the selling.  Both helped establish the Blue Earth Snow Rovers Snowmobile Club with a beautiful, warm and welcome club house, the only one in southern Minnesota and northern Iowa.  Both Luella and Duane taught youth snowmobile safety classes and served on the Snow Rovers Board together.  Her family lovingly remembers her for her cooking, canned goods, and baking - especially those yummy pies.

Luella is survived by her loving husband, Duane, and sons Durwin (Carol) of Mankato, Bruce (Brenda) of Burnsville, and Wayne (Rose) of Blue Earth. Grandchildren; Eric (Jody) Hermanson, Mark Hermanson, Scot (Krystal) Hermanson, Laura A. Hermanson, Laura (Jake) Januszewski, Brian (Haley) Hermanson, Brandon (Jacqueline) Hermanson, Corey (Laura E.) Hermanson, and Kristy Hermanson. Great-grandchildren; Brooklyn Hermanson, Olivia Hermanson, Caden Hermanson, Tait Hermanson, Kyle Hermanson, Nora Hermanson, Jemma Januszewski, Jett Januszewski, Lola Januszewski, Sonya Hermanson, Avery Hermanson, Savannah Hermanson, Kyler Hermanson and Duane A. Hermanson. Her sister, Eleanor Schlaak, as well as many nieces, nephews, other family members, and friends. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, sister, Erna Tesch and brother, Arno Mathews.